10 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in El Paso County, Texas.
Verified from official government sources
El Paso County has no county-wide noise ordinance and no legal quiet hours for its unincorporated areas. Texas counties lack the police power to adopt one, so nighttime noise outside city limits is governed only by the state disorderly-conduct statute, enforced by the Sheriff.
El Paso County sets no construction start or stop times for its unincorporated areas because Texas counties cannot adopt noise ordinances. Early or late construction outside city limits is limited only by the state 'unreasonable noise' statute, not by fixed hours.
El Paso County has no barking-dog noise ordinance for unincorporated areas, since Texas counties cannot adopt noise rules. A chronically barking dog outside city limits is addressed only through the state unreasonable-noise statute or civil nuisance action, both requiring a willing complaining witness.
El Paso County has no leaf-blower ordinance and no authority to enact one. Gas and electric blowers are unrestricted in unincorporated areas, limited only by the state unreasonable-noise statute. Any blower-specific limits exist solely within incorporated cities.
El Paso County has no amplified-sound ordinance or permit for unincorporated areas because Texas counties cannot regulate noise. Loud amplified music outside city limits is addressed only by the state unreasonable-noise statute. Amplified-sound permits exist solely inside cities like El Paso.
Tex. Penal Code 42.01(c)(2)
…a noise is presumed to be unreasonable if the noise exceeds a decibel level of 85 after the person making the noise receives notice from a magistrate or peace officer that the noise is a public nuisance.
El Paso County cannot regulate aircraft noise. Overflights from El Paso International Airport and Fort Bliss / Biggs Army Airfield are governed exclusively by the FAA and the military, which preempt any local noise rule the county might otherwise consider.
El Paso County has no industrial-noise ordinance and no authority to enact one. Factories, plants, and commercial operations in unincorporated areas answer only to the state unreasonable-noise statute and to any state environmental permit; the county cannot set an industrial decibel cap.
El Paso County sets no decibel limits for unincorporated areas because Texas counties cannot adopt noise ordinances. The only numeric threshold that applies is the state statute's 85-decibel presumption of 'unreasonable' noise, and only after an officer has given warning.
Tex. Penal Code 42.01(c)(2)
…a noise is presumed to be unreasonable if the noise exceeds a decibel level of 85 after the person making the noise receives notice from a magistrate or peace officer that the noise is a public nuisance.
El Paso County has no outdoor-music or special-event noise ordinance for unincorporated areas and cannot adopt one. Backyard bands, outdoor venues, and events outside city limits answer only to the state unreasonable-noise statute enforced by the Sheriff.
El Paso County has no local vehicle-noise ordinance, but state law fills the gap. Loud exhaust and mufflers are regulated statewide by the Texas Transportation Code, enforced by the Sheriff and DPS, while booming car stereos fall under the state unreasonable-noise statute.
1 cities in El Paso County have their own noise ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
See every category we cover for El Paso County — parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
El Paso County Ordinance Hub →